Thill-coupling



Z T L U P A m d o M 0 m THILL COUPLING.

04 M254 Z1422, Inventor.

Witnesses.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUSTIN FULTZ, OF WINONA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, AND EDIVARD H. BAUER, OF BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,081, dated August 12, 189(1' Application filed March 20, 1890- Seria1No.344,654. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AUSTIN FULTZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vinona, in the county of Oolumbiana and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thin-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a thill-coupling that is more simple in its construction, more readily put in place or separated when necessary, and is securely held in place when in position for use, so that it cannot be accidentally disengaged, all of which will be fully and clearly hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device complete. Fig. 2 is a detached inside face view of one of the eccentrics. Fig. 3 is asection through line a b, Fig. 7, showing one of the eccentrics in the proper position for receiving one end of the bolt that passesthrough the thill or shaft iron or permitting the removal of the same. Fig. 4 is a similar section through line a b, Fig. 7, showing the eccentric in position for entering the recess or removal therefrom. Fig. 5 is aside elevation of one of the eccentrics. Fig. 6 is a section through line a b, Fig. 7, showing the circular recess from which the eccentric has been removed, the projection at being omitted. Fig. 7 is a top view of the device, showing both eccentrics in position for the easy removal or attachment of the thill-iron. Fig. 8 is a top View of a portion of the thill-iron, showing also the bolt that passes through it.

In said drawings, 1 represents the body of the coupling forming the clip for securing it to the axle. It is provided with two forwardlyprojecting portions 2, each having a circular recess 3, (shown in Fig. 6,) and a drop slot or opening 3 at the top. Between the portions 2 is a projecting stop 4., which passes between and partly over each recess, as shown. Into each recess 3 is fitted an eccentric 5 and 5, so as to be easily turned therein, and in each eccentric is a slot or entrance opening 6 and 6. The bottom of the openings 6 may be made either round or square. I have shown it round on one eccentric at 6, and square on the opposite eccentric at 6 in Fig. 7, so as to use abolt having one end square and. the

other round; but the bolt may be either round or square. On each eccentric is an inwardlyprojecting stop 7, the twoends of which come very near together when the two eccentrics are in place, as shown in Fig. 7. J

The end of the thill-iron 8 is provided with a bolt 9, which passes through it, as shown, (see Fig. 8,) in which I have shown one end of the bolt square and the other round; but the bolt may be either round or square without materially changing the nature of the invention.

In using this invention the two eccentrics are put in place, as shown in Fig. 7. When putting them into the recesses 3, they are turned so that the openings 6 or 6 will pass over the projecting portion or stop 4:. In this position they will easily pass in, as shown in Fig. 4:. From this position, when in place in the recesses, both eccentrics are turned around into the position shown in Fig. 3 and also in Fig. 7. The thill-iron may now be entered in place between the two projecting portions 2, the ends of the bolt 9 passing into the openings 6 and 6 in the eccentrics. By now drawing thethill-iron forward and downward the eccentrics will be turned around forward until the stops 7 rest against the under side of the stop 4, so that all the parts are substan tially in the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. In this position the thill-iron is securely held in place, so that it cannot be removed unless the thill is lifted upward and forced backward, so that the eccentricswill' be in the position shown in Fig 3. After all the parts are in position, as shown in Fig. 1,

a spring or anti-rattler 10 is put in, substantially as shown in said Fig. 1. 0

This thill-coupling is preferably made of iron as the most suitable material; but it may be made of any material adapted for the purpose. The pin 9 may be either loose or fast in the thill-iron.

I am aware that thill-couplings have heretofore been made having a cylindrical portion provided with a slot and fitted in drawirons or portions 2, having circular inner side opening or depressions slotted through the top and adapted to receive the cylindrical portion, so that the thill-iron can be connected therewith and be secured by turning the cylindrical portion in its seat. I therefore do not claim such, broadly; but

WVhat I do claim is 1. In a thill-coupling, the combination, With the clip-iron for securing it to the axle, of two projecting portions, each having an inner side circular opening or depression 3, provided with an opening through the top, a forwardlyprojecting stop 4 between the portions 2, two

disks or eccentrics adapted to fit the side openings, having entrance-open ings and stops 7, and a thill-iron provided with a bolt 9, projecting from each side of the same, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In a thill-coupling, the combination, with i the clip for securing it to the axle, of two projecting portions, each having an inner side circular opening provided with an'opening through thetop, a forwardly-projecting stop between the tWo projecting portions, two disks or eccentrics adapted to fit the circular side openings, each having an entrance-opening and a projecting stop-piece, a thill-iron having a bolt projecting from each side of the same, and an anti-rattling spring located between the end of the thill-iron and the stop 4:, the Whole combined for joint operation substantially as described.

AUSTIN FULTZ. Witnesses:

CURTIS VoTAW, EDWIN THOMAS. 

